it just takes time

i have another story from my job yesterday that completely touched my heart almost to the point of tears (which isn't all that surprising when you consider that i cry at the drop of a hat anyway!)

there is a second grade girl, o, who i have known now since she was in kindergarten. she is the absolute quietest, shyest girl i have ever had in class, and for the past 2 and a half years, i have struggled to get her to participate and interact with me. she has cried more in my class than i care to count and i have done everything to try and be patient and find ways that make her more comfortable with participating.

this year has been a slow and steady success for her. i decided that i would let her choose when she was ready to participate, and if she didn't do what the rest of the class was doing while we were all together, she had the option to stay after class and show me that she could do it (like clap a rhythm or sing an exercise). and although this has been successful, she still didn't connect with me. and i'm alright with that because i know that i'm not going to have relationships with every single student.

but then yesterday happened. i was walking out of my room to home for the weekend and no sooner had i locked my door when i heard someone literally yelling "goodbye miss andrews!!!". i looked down the hallway (which happens to be the 2nd grade hallway) and little o is jumping up and down and waving goodbye to me. as i got closer, she quieted down and said something but i didn't quite hear her, so i asked her to repeat it. she looked at me for a minute, didn't say anything, and just walked over to give me a hug. and then she went back to putting her snowpants on and that was that.

i guess it just takes time and persistence sometimes. and even if that is the only time something like that happens between o and i, i'll hold it in my heart always.